Bone? covered jewelry/sewing box in shape of a book?

Hi,
I found this last week thrifting & at first thought it held a Bible because of it's book shape, but opening it shows what is probably a sewing box (could be a cool jewelry box!) because of the needle in the top part that opens.
What is it made of? I thought shell, but on the 1 side where a decorative ball is missing n g you can see where a small hole has been drilled into the box - and you can see it's made of wood, with a thin layer of whatever the outer shell is made of.
What is that outer shell?
Has anyone seen one like this, because Google search/Ai couldn't find another like it either?
Folk art?
Any help would be appreciated, thank you!

 

Looks more like horn.

Debora

 

Bone? covered jewelry/sewing...

how many of these do we need..?

 

Horn seconded. Or sounded, if you prefer.

 

Thank you Debora

 

Ditto.

 

Definitely horn. What's the interior like?

~Cheryl

 

It's very pretty journey. A nice find.

 

Didn't notice inside didnt load, sorry - it was pretty 1st cup of coffee!
PS - that needle in 2nd pic made me change thinking from jewelry box to sewing box!

 

Thank you!

 

It's a Whatever box. Whatever fits!

 

That is a rather pleasing box -- I like the pattern that the horn makes. AND, it's shaped like a book!

 

Given the quality of the interior, I'd look to Latin America. But could well be vintage Spanish.

Debora

 

My bet is India. They make horn boxes and I've seen that lower quality interior in Indian boxes.

 

Hadn't thought of India but think you're right.

Debora